India, Aug. 2 -- I am currently in Fort Kochi, a place by the sea that is so quiet, it's almost unsettling.

At first, the silence was a welcome relief from the chaos of Mumbai. But in a matter of days I began to notice something else was that was tangibly missing: young people.

Most have left for places where the jobs are plentiful and the streets are bustling. Most of those that remain in Fort Kochi are older. Among them is my mother. Occasionally, as with my mother, children return to visit; they may stay for a while, sort of orbiting, but they are not here for good.

My mother is now in her mid-70s. She is still sharp, still precise, and still believes I don't eat as well as I ought to. There is still a quiet efficiency to her. She w...